Promo

In the centre of Poljčane in a fully renovated, more than a hundred years old house, the Nature Development Centre was recently opened, where a public institution with the same name will operate from now on. Among its tasks will be the coordination of outdoor learning courses located in the Poljčane area and promotion of tourism. The renovated building will become a focus of activity, as it will host cultural events, educational seminars and promotions of natural and cultural heritage. The citizens who attended the opening were full of expectations and did not hide their enthusiasm for the new acquisition.

Video report

Video transcript

Approximately two years ago we came up with the idea of the Nature Development Centre, which has finally opened its doors in a fully renovated, more than a hundred years old house in the centre of Poljčane.

Stanislav Kovačič, Mayor of Poljčane: It took us a lot of small steps to arrive to where we are today, to be able to make this first large step, when we actually open the Development Centre building, which is only a part of the whole project called Nature Development Centre.

Prof. Ddr. Ana Vovk Korže, Head of the Nature’s Classroom Project:Considering the fact that the project “Establishing Conditions for Experiential Education for Sustainable Development” is mostly being carried out in this municipality, we urgently needed a building, which was financed by the municipality, so we can hold seminars, workshops and courses for teachers, students and pupils here. Nature provides us with experiential possibilities, but the background theory has to be thought and learned in a certain environment.

Jerneja Križan, independent professional associate working for MC ERM: The Nature Development Centre in Poljčane will be a connecting unit, a linking point which will organize and coordinate all zones and outdoor courses here in the Municipality of Poljčane. An info point will also be located here, where children and visitors will be provided with directions and combined into groups to visit the zones and educational courses.

Nina Hriberšek, independent expert: Cooperation will be continued at school level, because Nature’s Classroom is located here, which is very interesting for other municipalities who don’t have it. Then there will be cooperation at a regional level with various regions and of course we want to establish national and cross-border cooperation as well.

Nature Development Centre will also be aimed at educational tourism.

Bojana Korez, proffesional associate working for MC ERM:Tourism as a branch also comes up in this context, because we want to include it, attract people and in a way show them what can as a potential activity be offered to potential guests, future guests, tourists and visitors who will come to see both the cultural and the natural heritage, and how to combine all of this into an integrated whole with the learning grounds and with the Nature’s Classroom.

The citizens of Poljčane participated in creating a vision that also represents their intent to be recognizable for their attitude towards the environment.

Bojan Mažgon, co-owner of a counselling agency: The citizens of Poljčane are well aware of their advantages and disadvantages, but what is important are the values of these citizens. First among them, high above the others, is environmental awareness and their attitude towards the environment. It is followed by the realization and awareness that successful development requires integration within the municipality as well as to the outside.

The Municipality of Poljčane is also a best practise example on how to treat energy.
Dr. Vlasta Krmelj, Director of the Energy Agency of Podravje:The centre will provide data on public sector energy consumption in the municipality, at the same time it will also offer counselling to the citizens and to everyone interested in how to save energy and how to use renewable energy sources.

The project “Establishing Conditions for Experiential Education for Sustainable Development” also successfully attracts the local population.

Ferdinand Vouk, ERM course in Modraže: It has been going on for two years and the response is constantly growing. I am convinced that my children and everyone else will participate and see and experience nature the way it is and start respecting it more.

How did the idea of a Nature Development Centre come to life?

Alenka Sajovic, Ecoremediation Technology Centre Celje:The idea came from the realization that we no longer know how to live in harmony with nature. In the past people knew how to live with nature, they didn’t subjugate it, they only took what they needed. Today man demands more and more from nature. It is only right then that we are aware that there is much to learn from nature, that we have to live hand in hand with it and it is this idea that the Development Centre wants to spread among the people, so we will live in harmony with nature.

The cost of renovating the Nature Development Centre building, which will become a focus of activity, as it will host cultural events, educational seminars and promotion of natural and cultural heritage of this area, amounted to 300,000 euro including the required equipment. The citizens, who already had the chance to see the new acquisition, are full of expectations and do not hide their enthusiasm.

Respondent 1:Of course it’s important for our town, as people will be able to gather and congregate here and develop new ideas.

Respondent 2: I believe that there is enough opportunities in the town of Poljčane for this to develop.

Respondent 3:In the future we have to attract more associates and inform people from surrounding villages about where interesting activities are taking place, so they can participate and inform a larger population group.

Respondent 4:I believe that our town will profit from it, however, it depends on how well we will be able to motivate and educate our citizens.

Respondent 5:Many people will come from the countryside. The centre will help people train for other purposes, so they will start to realize that nature is important.

Respondent 6:I am overjoyed and I believe this is what was needed for our environment, for our municipality, for our citizens and that it will be great for the young people as well as for us who are no longer that young!